Sad clown paradox • Hacker News Board

Re: Sad clown paradox

#101

Post by lazide » Thu, Nov 09, 2023, 4:04 PM UTC

aatd86 wrote: post #46

lazide wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Professional comedians are…. Well known to have issues. It’s not a type of direction someone takes if they’re able to get what they need from a normal life. Just being funny != being a professional comedian.

What about someone who starts acting classes as a kid and naturally turns toward comedy? Then again I understand that being compelled to trigger something in someone all the time (laughter) can be pretty demanding. That's also an internal work of the mind and how to deal with one's thoughts and emotions, it doesn't have to be so stressful.

It's not just demanding, it's pretty anxiety inducing as the comedian has no direct control over if the audience will find it funny or not! It's basically the opposite of Stoicism, for instance. Their happiness/success depends on being able to make other people happy/laugh, which... yikes.

Do you have any examples of anyone who has done so long term?

Looking at the list of professional comedians, I'm not seeing any obvious examples.

Re: Sad clown paradox

#102

Post by suoduandao3 » Thu, Nov 09, 2023, 4:04 PM UTC

isleyaardvark wrote: post #83

suoduandao3 wrote: post #78

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What, that he was a sex addict for much of his career and made some regrettable choices during that time? I'm aware. He's mentioned it once or twice.

He's been accused of rape and sexual assault by multiple women.

Has he? All I've heard are insinuations by the same institutions who covered up Saville's crimes.

Re: Sad clown paradox

#103

Post by lazide » Thu, Nov 09, 2023, 4:11 PM UTC

djur wrote: post #45

lazide wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Professional comedians are…. Well known to have issues. It’s not a type of direction someone takes if they’re able to get what they need from a normal life. Just being funny != being a professional comedian.

I wonder how comedians compare to other performers, though. There are plenty of stories of musicians with problems, for instance.

I suspect it's a similar dynamic at play.

Re: Sad clown paradox

#104

Post by dudeinjapan » Thu, Nov 09, 2023, 4:20 PM UTC

"To me, clowns aren't funny. In fact, they're kinda scary. I've wondered where this started, and I think it goes back to the time I went to the circus and a clown killed my dad."

-- Deep Thoughts by Jack Handey

Re: Sad clown paradox

#105

Post by dudeinjapan » Thu, Nov 09, 2023, 4:22 PM UTC

By this logic, trolls who make others miserable must be the happiest people in the world.

Re: Sad clown paradox

#106

Post by dudeinjapan » Thu, Nov 09, 2023, 4:25 PM UTC

avgcorrection wrote: post #98

I really dislike when something is “non-intuitive” to the completely naive and thus a phenomenom is called a paradox.

I didn't expect that, but you're right. It must be a paradox.

Re: Sad clown paradox

#107

Post by moralestapia » Thu, Nov 09, 2023, 4:33 PM UTC

josephg wrote: post #57

I did a clowning masterclass in France a few months ago. (That was a whole, wild experience that I’ll be haunted by for years). While I was there I realised I’ve been operating under a certain kind of dumb philosophy my whole life without realising it. The philosophy is something like this: “I believe if I’m “good” enough, nobody will reject me for being “bad” and people will like me.” And fill in whatever you want f…

>We don’t like people who are perfect. We like people for their flaws.

Also wrong, though. But I'm glad you're in some sort of path to self improvement :D.

Re: Sad clown paradox

#108

Post by anononaut » Thu, Nov 09, 2023, 4:53 PM UTC

earthboundkid wrote: post #76

feintruled wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah they really fluff the delivery of it though, basically give you the punchline first and then at the end reproduce a purposely bad retelling of it in full.

It wouldn't be Wikipedia if they didn't stomp all over the joke.

It's comical in its own right

Re: Sad clown paradox

#109

Post by earthboundkid » Thu, Nov 09, 2023, 4:55 PM UTC

greggsy wrote: post #80

earthboundkid wrote: post #75

Everyone should watch https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mera_Naam_Joker . It's such a great movie.

Ill take your word for it - it’s a four hour Hindi movie from 1970…

I started watching unsubtitled clips on YouTube, and I couldn't stop. Even without the language, it's mesmerizing.

Re: Sad clown paradox

#110

Post by Jeff_Brown » Thu, Nov 09, 2023, 5:32 PM UTC

JohnFen wrote: post #97

hackeraccount wrote: post #70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I was just visiting a friend and the exact opposite happened to me - she suggested I was reserved when I would describe myself as outgoing. It was an offhand comment on her part and I'm not given to introspection but it did make me think. I remembered another friend who seemed entirely different depending upon his girlfriend being around or not. The thing that confused me was I couldn't figure out which version of th…

They're both "real". People tend to modify their behavior according to who they're near. They aren't "faking it", though. It's that we tend to behave as those we are around behave. And, conversely, those people who are around us tend to behave as we do. Once you notice this, you can't stop seeing it. All versions of ourself is still the real us, though -- we're just emphasizing and deemphasizing different aspects of…

I just accept a new job, in part, because people I knew from a previous job are so happy there. I'm afraid of the increased workload, but they are feeling the same increase, and I would have to believe we are extremely different to think that my experience making the same move won't be like theirs.